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Rice Exporters: India, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and the Other Suppliers
Rice is traded by a few Asian exporters and bought by dozens of importing countries, many of them in Africa and the Middle East. India alone has about three tenths of the trade.
The largest exporters
OEC trade data for 2024 shows world exports of rice of about USD 39.6 billion. India had 29.9 percent of the trade, Thailand 16.9, Vietnam 10.3, Pakistan 10.2, the United States 6.4 and Cambodia 4.8. Asian exporters ship rice to Africa, the Middle East and other Asian countries; the United States ships mainly to the Americas and the Middle East.
The buyers
The largest importers in 2024 were Indonesia (6.8 percent of world imports), the Philippines (6.3), Saudi Arabia (4.8), Vietnam (4.3), Iraq (4.2) and the United States (4.0). Many importing countries buy through government tenders or state buyers, and others through private traders and importers.
Types of rice
Rice is traded as white rice, parboiled rice, basmati, jasmine and broken rice, each with its own price and its own market. A contract names the type, the variety, the percentage of broken grains, the milling degree, the moisture and the crop year. Basmati comes from India and Pakistan, and jasmine mainly from Thailand and Cambodia.
Packing and shipping
Rice moves in 25 kg and 50 kg bags, often in containers, and in bulk on bulk carriers for large cargoes. Bags are stacked on pallets, and the cargo must be kept dry and free of insects. Cargoes of broken or lower grades are often shipped in bulk to large buyers.
Export rules
Rice exporters, India above all, have changed their export rules at short notice in the past, for example with taxes, minimum prices or limits on some types. Before you agree a contract, check the current rules of the exporting country and put a clause in the contract for what happens if the rules change.
How to buy rice in bulk
See the sell offers on the rice page or post a buy request with the type, the quantity, the discharge port and the delivery term. Read FOB vs CFR vs CIF, how to find commodity suppliers and export and import documents.
Seasons and crops
Rice has more than one harvest in many countries, so exporters can ship through most of the year. India has two main crops, one harvested in autumn and one in spring. Thailand and Vietnam have a main crop and one or two smaller ones. Prices and supply move with the monsoon, so ask for the crop year in the specification.
What to check before you buy
Ask for the specification, a sample and a certificate of analysis, the packing and the number of bags per container. Agree who inspects the cargo at loading, and what happens if the broken percentage or the moisture is outside the limits. Check the import rules of your country, which can limit the type of rice or ask for a phytosanitary certificate.
The largest exporting and importing countries (2024)
| Top exporting countries | Share of world trade |
|---|---|
| India | 29.9% |
| Thailand | 16.9% |
| Vietnam | 10.3% |
| Pakistan | 10.2% |
| United States | 6.4% |
| Cambodia | 4.8% |
| Burma | 3.5% |
| China | 2.4% |
| Top importing countries | Share of world trade |
|---|---|
| Indonesia | 6.8% |
| Philippines | 6.3% |
| Saudi Arabia | 4.8% |
| Vietnam | 4.3% |
| Iraq | 4.2% |
| United States | 4% |
| Cote d'Ivoire | 2.7% |
| Malaysia | 2.7% |
Source: OEC (BACI/CEPII), 2024, customs codes 1006. The figures count trade by every mode of transport, not only by sea.
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